Demonstration project for remediating & eliminating mercury in small-scale gold mining in Honduras

This report presents findings on reducing mercury use in small-scale gold mining in Honduras. High levels of mercury contamination in river sediments, tailing lagoons, and groundwater necessitated the project.

The project had four components:

  1. Mercury remediation in discharge lagoons at prioritized sites with the recovery of gold lost by the inefficient rastra method.
  2. Elimination of mercury through the introduction of mercury-free processing techniques.
  3. Environmentally sound management and final disposal of mercury.
  4. Environmental education.

Despite challenges like delays and changing government policies, the project successfully demonstrated an innovative technology to remediate mercury from mining tailings, introduced mercury-free gold extraction methods, and initiated an environmental education program. The project also contributed to legalizing small-scale gold mining in Honduras using Danish technology to reduce impacts on human and ecosystem health.

Read the MUDP-report.